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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK J. MIX, OF NEWARK, NEYV JERSEY.

SHOE-FASTENER.

S.PECIFICATION forming" part of Letters Patent No. 281,909, dated July 24, 1883.

Application filed- March 16, 1883. (No model.)

To wZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK J. MIX, a citizen of the United States, residing in Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful In1- provement in Shoe-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to facilitate the process of buttoning shoes; and it consists in. the improved shoe-fastening constructed and arranged substantiallyas will be hereinafter set forth, and as will be embodied in the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in each of the several figures, Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of a shoe showing the fastener in a closed condition. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the fastener detached from the shoe; and Fig. 3 is an end view, showing more clearly certain pointed lugs adapted to be thrust through the leather and be clinched on the under side, by which means the" said fastening device is held in position on the shoe.

In carrying out my invention I form a me tallic plate or bar, to, having at one end depending pointed lugs 1), adapted to be thrust through the leather portion 0 at a point in the shoe opposite the button-hole d in the portion 6 of the said shoe. Said pointed lugs, when thus thrust through the leather 0, are clinched on the under side, and the said plate a is held firmly in position. its free extremity projecting over the edge of the leather 0- and under the leather 0 when said portions 0 and e are in close relation to one another.

The free extremity of the plate a is provided with bearings f for the tongue said bearings being preferably formed bybending the metal on itself to form loops, the center portions being cut away, as shown in Fig. 1, to allow the said tongue 9 to be placed between the bearings. Said tongue may be formed of wire,

which, being doubled, as shown, and thus forming a rounded free extremity, has its ends bent 5 oppositely and laterally to form journals 7:, which engage with and work in the bearings f,- but the tongue may be stamped in substantially the same formfrom a metal plate.

At a point on the plate a, above the lugs b, is arranged or formed a cap, m, which has a neck, n, which connects it to the plate a. Said cap is hollowed underneath to receive the upwardly-bent free extremity of the tongue 9 and hold the same when the shoe is fastened. The extremity being thus covered is not lia ble to catch and become disengaged as it would be if exposed, as in catches heretofore in use. The shape of the cap also resembles in outward appearance the usual button, for which it is a substitute.

The edge of the cap may be notched, as at 0, so that the said bent extremity of the tongue may be more readily inserted in the cap. Said cap preferably has its upper face rounded in imitation of the ordinary button.

In operation, the tongue 9 is thrust through the button-hole and turned down toward the cap, and finally secured therein, the leverage of the tongue drawing the parts 0 0 together in the process of fastening, as will be under cap adapted to receive the free end of the tongue, .all substantially as herein setforth.- I11 testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of March, A. D. 1883.

FREDERICK J. MIX.

\Vitnesses:

CHARLES H. PELL, F. F. CAMPBELL. 

